Machine for forming concrete blocks.



S.' STRONG.

MACHINE POR PORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED KAY 20, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.'`

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S. STRONG.

MACHINE FOR PORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

- APPLIUATION runnin 20.11910. 1,000,207. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 'guna/who@ CIL-mm c LUMBIA PLANooRAPH co.. wAsHlNnroN. D. C.

S. STRONG. MACHINE FOR FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1910.

- Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

s. STRONG. l MACHINE FOR FORMING. CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1910.

1,000,207. A Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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s. STRONG. l MACHINE FOB. FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1910. 1 ,000,207, Patented Aug. 8,1911.

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SUTTON STRONG, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Application filed May 20, 1910. Serial No. 562,471.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SUTTON STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specilication.

The present invention is designed to supply a machine of the character set forth embodying' essentially two parts, namely, a compressing' mechanism and a mold, the latter being of such formation as to be supplied with material at a convenient point and then advanced to the compressing mechanism whereby pressure is applied to give to the material the desired shape and density after which the mold may be removed to a convenient point whereby it may be relieved of the block, the parts being of such arrangement as to admit of a number of molds being utilized so that the operation may be practically continuous.

The invention is further intended to provide a mechanism of novel structure whereby the material is subjected topressure within the mold equally upon opposite sides of the core, with the result that there is no tendency to unequal compression of the material or displacement of the core, the compressing force being uniform upon opposite sides of a medial line and extending from the point of application to a center line, where the opposing forces are neutralized.

A further purpose of the invention is to devise a mold and to mount the same in a manner to admit of the parts being readily separated for removal of the block and easily asseinbled to receive the material for forming the next block, so that the operation may be quickly performed and the mold manipulated with convenience and despatch.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the application, Figure 1 is a side view of a concrete block forming machine embodying the invention, showing the mold in operative position and the parts in the relation which they occupy when the material in the mold is subjected to maximum pressure, the mold being illustrated in section. Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. F 1g. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking to the right, showing the relation of the parts when the followers or plunger heads of the press are separated preliminary to compressing the material in the mold. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the mold on the line 5 5 of Fig. G, looking to the left, the core being shown in full lines. Fig'. 6 is a transverse section on the line @h6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the mold, the wheels on the near side being removed and the axle arms being in section. Fig. 8 is an end view of the mold. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the mold. Fig. 10 is a view of the mold inverted. Fig. 11 is a detail' section of the lower portion of the mold on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, showing the supporting bar moved to operative position so as to sustain the bottom of the mold in elevated position. Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the mold as it appears when turned upon its side with the bail moved to one side and the front of the mold elevated. Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the mold, the parts being separated. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of a concrete block, the product of the machine.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The machine embodies a framework 1 of substantial construction and comprising parts arranged to best advantage for supporting the operating elements. The framework has a lateral extension at one side upon which the mold is adapted to travel, said lateral extension being provided with rails 2, which form a track upon which the mold travels. A rock shaft 3 is mounted in bearings at one side of the framework and arms 4 are connected thereto for moving the rock shaft when required, said arms being connected at their outer ends by means of a cross piece 5 which constitutes a handle bar. rlhe arms 4 may be secured to the rock shaft 3 in any manner and are located exterior to the framework and are movable simultaneously by reason of the connection of the handle bar 5 thereto. Upper levers 6 are mounted upon a rod or shaft 7 and have a horizontal arrangement and are connected at their rear ends with cross bars 8 secured to the rock shaft 3 and their front ends have adjustable connection with the stems 9 of a follower or plunger head 10. Links 11 connect the rear ends of the levers 6 with arms of the cross bars 3. Other levers 12 located some distance below the levers 6 are mounted upon a rod or bar 13 and have their rear ends connected by means of links 14 with the other arms of the cross bars 8, whereas their front ends are pivotally connected with the stems 15 of a follower or plunger head 16. Pairs of bars 17 having a vertical arrangement are supported on the rods 7 and 13 and are connected to the framework 1 in any substantial way. The bars 17 projectabove and below the rods 7 and 13 and links 13 pivotally connect their upper extensions with the stems 9, whereas links 19 pivotally connect the lower extensions with the stems 15. The links 18 extend parallel with the levers 6 and the links 19 extend parallel with the levers 12. By reason of the parallelism of the stems 9 and bars 17 and the parallel relation of the links 18 and levers 6 the follower or plunger head 10 moves vertically and always remains parallel to a given position and the same is true of the follower or plunger head 16 by reason of its mountings, the coperating parts providing a parallelogram. Upon operating the handle bar 5 the arms 4C are simultaneously moved, thereby rocking the shaft 3 and turning the cross bars 8 and effecting a simultaneous movement of the levers 6 and 12 in opposite directions, with the result that the followers 10 and 16 are either separated or brought together, as indicated most clearly in Figs. l and 1. When the arms l: are moved into vertical position the rear ends of the levers 6 and 12 are brought together and their outer ends separated, thereby moving the followers or plunger heads 10 and 16 apart, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4;. Then the arms 4l are moved into horizontal position the rear ends of the levers 6 and 12 are separated and their frontends brought together, with the result that the followers or plunger heads 10 and 16 are moved inward, thereby compressing the material in the mold, as indicated most clearly'in Fig. 1. rlhe lower follower or plunger head 16 is arranged to operate between the rails 2 of the track. The arms 4r swing` clear of the mold, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3.

The mold is mounted upon a truck, which latter is arranged to travel upon the track between the press and the mill or supply of material. The truck embodies a frame 2O and axles 21 upon the arms of which are mounted wheels 22 which are flanged so as to retain the truck upon the rails of the track. The mold comprises a bottom 23, a top 211, end pieces 25, a front 26 and a back 27. The bottom 23 is normally supported at its ends by projecting portions of the axles 21 and is of a size to move freely between the inclosing bars forming the frame 20. The back 27 is bolted or otherwise secured to a longitudinal bar of the truck frame and the front 26 is movable and adapted to be supported upon the opposite longitudinal. bar of the truck frame. The end pieces 25 are hinged or pivotally connected to the ends of the back 27, as indicated at 23, and are formed with outer extensions 29 for a purpose presently explained. When the end pieces 25 are closed they abut against the ends of the back 27 and receive the end portions of the front 26, the latter being retained in place by dowels, which are secured to the front and enter openings formed in the ends of the parts 25. The top 24C is of a size to lit between the end pieces and the front and pallet back of the mold when said parts are properly assembled.

A. bail 29a of substantially U-form is pivoted at 36 to extensions 31 of the back 27 and is adapted to embrace the end pieces 25 and the front 26 and is provided at the ends of its front bar with set screws 32, which are adapted to bear against the outer edges of cam shaped extensions 33 formed upon end portions of the front 26. The bail 29a is supported in horizontal position by the inner ends of the set screws 32 engag ing shoulders 34 formed upon the extensions 33, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 6. r1`he side members of the bail 29a em brace the end Ipieces 25 and are adapted to engage the outer extensions 29 of said end pieces to effect automatic opening thereof when swinging the bail 29a from the horizontal position indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 into an approximately vert-ical position, as indicated in Fig. 13.

A core piece 35 is provided and preferably attached to the front 26 and is movable therewith and is of a size to extend across the mold space so as to form an opening in the cement block 36, as indicated in Fig. 14. Pins 37 are secured to the core piece 35 and are adapted to project through reinforced openings formed in the back 27 and to extend beyond the outer side of said back. rlhe pins 37 serve to support the core piece 35 to retain the pallet 38 in place and to act as lifters for elevating the front 26 when the mold is turned upon its back or side, as indicated in Fig. 12. The pallet 3S is placed against the back 27 and is spaced therefrom by ribs formed upon the inner face of said back, thereby enabling the hands or lifting means to pass beneath the pallet when it is required to remove the same with the block thereon from the mold. The pallet has openings to register with corresponding openings formed in the back 27 for reception of the pins 37 which pass therethrough.

The end pieces 25 of the mold are provided upon their inner faces with raised portions, which form corresponding recesses or depressions in the end of the concrete block, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 14.

lVhen the mold is closed the parts are made secure by means of the bail 29a, which is moved to a position to embrace the front 2G and the end pieces The material for forming the block is supplied to the mold, after which the top 24 is placed in position, as indicated in Fig. 4. The mold is now run upon the track until it reaches a position in register with the followers or plunger heads 10 and 16, after which the arms 4 are operated to move the levers G and 12 to bring the followers or plunger heads together and thereby compress the material in the mold. To prevent displacement of the parts and insure registry of the followers or plunger headsI and the mold guide pins 39 are provided upon said followers and enter corresponding openings formed in the front and pallet of the mold. It is to be understood that the top 24 and bottom 23 are moved toward each other uniformly. In order that the lower follower or plunger head 1G may move upward and clear the axles 21 of the truck its upper face is cutaway, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. IVhen the bottom 23 is moved upward to the limit of its travel in the operation of the compressing means it is held elevated by means of a bar 40, which is supported in keepers 41 secured to the under side of the axles 21. The bar 40 is provided upon its upper side with projections 42, which are adapted to engage under projections 43 at opposite ends of the bottom 23. The projections 43 form parts of a flange or rib provided primarily for stitfening or strengthening the bottom, it being understood that in the preferable construction the component parts of the mold consist of castings with the exception of the pallet 38, which is as usual of wood. The upper ends of the projections 42 are slightly inclined to ride under the projections 43 which are correspondingly inclined, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 11. The bar 40 is normally pressed in one direction by means of a spring 44, which latter is interposed between an axle or part of the truck and a vertical extension 45 of the bar 40. Before compressing the material in the mold the bar 40 occupies a position with the projections 42 at one side of the projections 43, as indicated in Fig. 5, but when the bottom 23 is elevated in the operation of the press and reaches a position to cause the projections 43 to clear the projections 42 the bar 40 is moved longitudinally by the action of the spring 44, thereby bringing the projections 42 beneath the projections 43 and holding the bottom 23 elevated. After the material has been compressed the arms 4 are moved into vertical position, thereby withdrawing the followers or plunger heads 10 and 16 so as to clear the mold when the latter is run upon the track to a convenient point of discharge and is turned upon its back or side, as indicated in Fig. 12. Preliminary to turning the mold upon its back or side the bail 29a is moved to clear the front 26 so that when the mold is turned upon its back or side said front may be lifted by the pins 37 coming in contact with a block 46 or other point of resistance. r1`he core piece 35 is also moved upward, thereby enabling the front 26 and core piece to be lifted clear of the mold and block. After the front 26 and core piece 35 have been lifted clear of the mold and block the bail 29a is swung into horizontal position and at the same time throws the end pieces 25 outward by reason of the side members of the bail engaging the lateral extensions 29 thereof. The end pieces 25 are limited in their opening movement by the lateral extensions 29 engaging the surface forming a support for the mold, as indicated in Fig. 13.

By providing-.a number of molds it will be understood that while filling one mold another mold may be subjected to compression and a third mold may be relieved of the block previously formed, so that the operation of the press may be practically conftinuous, one mold being placed in position the instant the mold previously subjected to compression is moved out of the way.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

In combination oppositely disposed levers, actuating means therefor, followers connected with the levers, a mold mounted to be moved to a position between said followers, and cooperating guide means between the followers and mold.

2. In combination oppositely disposed levers, supporting means for said levers having opposite extensions, followers having stems pivotally connected to corresponding ends of said levers, links paralleling the respective levers and pivotally connected to the stems of the followers and the extensions of the supporting means for said levers, and operating means for simultaneously actuating said levers to effect a synchronous movement of the followers in opposite directions.

3. In combination upper and lower levers, followers connected therewith, actuating means for the levers, a track extending between and across the path of the followers, and a mold mounted t0 travel upon said track and comprising a movable top and a movable bottom which are adapted toV be engaged by the respective followers.

4t. In combination a mold comprising a vertically movable bottom, means for elevating said bottom to compress the material in the mold, and means for holding the bottom elevated comprising a horizontally movable part provided with vertical projections which engage the bottom and support the same when lifted to a predetermined point.

5. In combination a mold provided with a vertically movable bottom, means for lifting said bottom to compress the material in the mold, a horizontally movable member supported beneath the mold and provided with vertical projections, and corresponding projections pendent from the said bottom to be engaged by the projections of the supporting member to hold the bottom elevated.

G. In combination a mold provided with a vertically movable bottom, means for lifting said bottom, a supporting member arranged beneath the mold and provided with projections, and a spring normally exerting a pressure upon the support to move the same to bring the projections thereof into operative position to hold the bottom elevated when lifted.

7. In combination a mold provided with a vertically movable bottom, a member slidably supported beneath the mold and provided with projections which are inclined at their upper ends, cooperating projections pendent from the bottom of the mold and having their lower ends correspondingly inclined to the projections of the supporting member, and a spring normally exerting a pressure upon the member to bring the projections thereof beneath the projections of the said bottom.

8. In combination a frame, axles supporting said frame and provided with wheels, a mold supported upon said frame and comprising inclosing sides and a vertically movable bottom, the latter being supported by the said axles, means for elevating the bottom, and supporting means for holding the bottom when elevated.

9. A mold comprising an open frame, a bottom vertically movable in the space of the open frame and supported therein, inclosing sides mounted upon said frame, means for elevating the bottom, a bar slidable in the plane of the frame and provided with projections to engage under the bottom and hold the same elevated, and means for automatically moving the bar to bring the projections thereof into operative position when the bottom is moved to a given elevation.

10. In combination a mold comprising oppositely disposed movable walls provided with outer extensions, and a bail for retaining the inclosing sides of the mold in proper position and adapted to engage the outer extensions of the movable walls to throw the same outward when the bail is turned aside to release the inclosing sides or walls of the mold.

ll. A mold comprising a side, inclosing walls pivoted to opposite ends of said inclosing side and having outer extensions, and a pivoted bail for securing the inclosing sides of the mold when in operative position and adapted to engage the outer extensions of the pivoted walls to throw the same out when the bail is swung to release the inolosing sides of the mold.

l2. In combination a mold comprising oppositely disposed sides, cam shaped extensions upon one of the sides and provided with stop shoulders, a bail pivoted to the opposite inclosing side and adapted to embrace the mold, and set screws provided upon the swinging end of the bail to ride upon thc cam shaped extensions and engage the stop shoulders thereof.

13. In combination a mold comprising oppositely disposed sides, pins projecting from on-e of the sides across the mold and beyond the opposite side, and means for engaging said pins to effect an initial movement of the side of the mold when said mold is turned upon its side.

14. In combination a mold comprising inelosing sides and a movable top and bottom, a core piece carried by one of said sides, pins attached to said core piece and adapted to project through openings in the opposite side of the mold, means for securing t-he sides of the mold when assembled, and a pallet arranged within the mold and provided with openings to receive the pins attached to said core piece.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SUTTON STRONG.

lVitnesses ANTON S'rnmr., ELIZABETH M. SWANAGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents nach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

